Steer Leads Pack out of Iditarod in Direction of Shageluk

Martin Buser and Jeff King end all conjecture in Iditarod when they arrive in quick succession about 4:30 PM Thursday evening. Incredibly, they have made a giant leap of 90 miles to include several short stops to feed their huskies. Conspicuously absent is Zach Steer, who departed earlier this morning in front of Buser and King.

Our helicopter saw Zach parked on the tundra about half way between Ophir and Iditarod but those of us working in the checkpoint assume he is only stopping for a short break. Finally, an hour after dark, we start to wonder if Zach broke his sled or had an accident. He seems long overdue and by 8PM even Martin Buser is asking if anyone knows the whereabouts of his fellow musher.

In a race full of twists and turns, Zach Steer finally arrives with 15 animated dogs at 9:30PM and quietly announces that he is checking in to Iditarod checkpoint, loading the sled with additional dog food, and straps a half bale of hay to his caboose sled. This ends all speculation about Zach Steer stranded helplessly on the tundra as he obviously appears in good enough health to steal the spotlight as the leading character in the 2007 Iditarod drama.

An hour later Martin Buser attempts to stealthily slip out of Iditarod in pursuit. He boots the dogs before his last feeding, which is not his normal procedure. Then he offers his dogs a last meal and then easily starts to put the dogs back in line for departure. He is not attempting to snooker the competition or the media but trying to catch his team off guard.

He has a female in heat, which is destroying all vestiges of team discipline. A small group of checkpoint volunteers, including vets and our film crew, witness a meltdown of organization as the team suddenly tangles in a ball of huskies. Martin quickly jumps off the sled and straightens out the team, and indicates to the checker that he has to get going. In seconds, after a comical exit, he disappears in the darkness in pursuit of Zach Steer.

Jeff King, characteristically, is more cautious than his competition Martin Buser. He rested a full eight hours, considered the “full tank” in Mushdom. He exited, dogs squealing and barking, a ridiculous display considering they had just come across a dismal stretch of tundra. Obviously amused by the behavior of his team, he was disconcerned about the time gap between he and front runners Steer and
Buser.

Lance Mackey and Paul Gebhardt

Mackey and Gebhardt prepare to leave off their 24 hour Mandatory rest at about 2:30 AM and 2:40 AM.

Clear, starlit , and moonless, the quiet of the checkpoint is broken by a raucous pack of Mackey hounds. A group of twelve veterans at the front of the team whine and yip, ready to leave the boredom of the checkpoint. Young dogs positioned in the rear of the towline near the sled look about quizzically, wondering about the enthusiasm of the veterans. Mackey told me earlier that these first year dogs are just beginning to understand the rhythm of the trail.

At 2:25 AM Lance moves his team from the straw bed onto the main trail and waits for the checker to announce his exact departure time. Lance avoids a prediction, and concentrates on the moment. He is entertained by his dogs, which have devoured buckets of feed, and are lunging to go. The only canine personality which seems out of place is Lances super leader Larry. Larry is standing staunchly at the front of the team, in contrast to his happy go lucky team mates. Larry, we discover, is not the fastest on the team but he is serious, never makes a mistake, and totally reliable. Lance has kept Larry anonymously in the team through the rough stuff of the Nikolai burn and the tussocks on the way to Iditarod. But now, says Lance, “Larry is going to make some time, I hope,” and laughs and smiles.

“You’re good to go , Lance,” announces the checker. Mackey and team reach the limit of the cameras light. A headlight bobs in the dark and then disappears in a wide curve of the slought. Ahead, the trail proceeds over rolling hills. Mackey is about three hours behind race leader Steer and Buser,

Ten minutes later, the steady Paul Gebhardt, departs. Fresh off a 24 hour break, Lance and Paul look to gradually reel in the front runners.